Warrington Parker is a first chair trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor with more than 30 years of experience and has tried more than 20 cases, including civil and criminal trials on a broad range of matters – securities fraud, money laundering, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, copyright, trade secret, violation of California bond measures statutes, product liability, product defect, and breach of contract. He is a partner in the San Francisco office of Crowell & Moring and is a member of the Litigation, White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement, and Investigations groups.
As a veteran litigator who knows his way around a court room and the board room, Warrington helps clients navigate issues involving the government or claimed violations of state and federal regulations and statutes. He represents clients in False Claims Act matters, employment discrimination cases involving a federal research facility, allegations of fraud and breach of contract brought against a client by a state, and allegations that a school board inappropriately spent bond monies in violation of California law. Additionally, he conducts criminal and civil investigations, both nationally and internationally, including FCPA and financial irregularity investigations in China, Japan, and India.
American Lawyer’s Litigation Daily recognized Warrington’s litigation prowess by awarding him the “Litigator of the Week” accolade for his representation of a multinational computer technology corporation in its pay discrimination suit (2020). He has also been a member of a trial team that Law360 recognized as Legal Lions (2019) after obtaining a favorable verdict in a product liability case in California. Warrington has been named by California Super Lawyers for civil litigation and criminal defense (2006-2007, 2012-2020).
From 1992 to 1996, Warrington was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California in the Los Angeles Criminal Division. He was a law clerk to the Honorable Cecil F. Poole of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1989-1990).
Affiliations
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Board of Directors, Legal Aid at Work, 2021
- Board of Directors, Harvard Law School Association of Northern California, 2021
- Member, American Bar Association
- Co-Chair, ABA Criminal Litigation Committee, 2019
- Co-Chair, ABA White Collar Committee's Computer Crime, Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets Subcommittee
- Co-Chair, ABA Litigation Section Appellate Practice Committee Publications Subcommittee, 2004-2008
- Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
- Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Boalt Hall, Criminal Procedure, 2008-2009
- Board Member, Mural Music & Arts Project, 2017-2018
- Board Member, Urban High School, 2010-2019
- Member, Ninth Circuit Criminal Appellate Panel, 2008-2014
- Lawyer Representative, Central District of California, 2002-2005
- Instructor, U.S. Attorney's Office, Basic Trial Advocacy, 1996
- Staff Member, Kolts Commission, 1992
- Board Member, Marin Country Day School, 2004-2012
- Board Member, East Bay Community Law Center, 2004-2008
Representative Matters
- Trial counsel in cases alleging that asbestos contamination of a company’s talc products caused mesothelioma and obtained a favorable verdict.
- Co-counsel representing a software company at trial in case brought by OFCCP alleging pay discrimination.
- Obtained defense verdict following trial that resulted in the setting aside of an injunction in a dispute involving the claimed inappropriate expenditure of school bond monies (Alpine Unified School District v. Grossmont Union High School District).
- Obtained verdict favoring client in a criminal case in which the government alleged wire fraud and securities fraud (United States v. Deller).
- Co-tried two cases and obtained defense verdict in connection with allegations of disparate impact age discrimination (Andrews et al. v. Lawrence Livermore Lab).
- Participated in team that litigated allegations brought by Oregon against a software company alleging violations of the False Claims Act, RICO, fraud, and breach of contract (State of Oregon v. Oracle).
- Trial counsel for an individual indicted for money laundering and wire and mail fraud (United States v. Vann).
- With others, successfully represented a toy company in a case involving, among other things, allegations of copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation relating to dolls (Mattel v. MGA).
- Represent and advise a Fortune 100 company in FCPA investigations in China, Japan, and India.
- Represented government contractor and obtained dismissal of complaint alleging False Claims Act violations.
- Successfully represented solar energy equipment supplier in a case alleging a reverse False Claim Act claim.
- Successfully represented a medical center in matter alleging violations of the False Claims Act.
- Successfully represented entrepreneurs in an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office concerning potential violation of the False Claims Act, specifically against potential claims of a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law.
- Conducted investigation relating to and counseled client regarding the False Claims Act retaliation provisions.
- Represented government contractor and obtained dismissal of complaint alleging False Claims Act violations.
- Represented officer of a company in a special investigation and follow on derivative action relating to alleged stock option backdating.
- Represented CFO of a company alleged to have engaged in violations of securities laws.
- Represented an ISP in a trade secrets misappropriation and breach of contract action resulting in favorable termination for client.
- Represented a company in a trade secrets misappropriation and breach of contract action resulting in favorable termination for client.
- Drafted appellate briefs for an events company. Without argument, the Ninth Circuit reversed the district court's decision to invalidate a settlement agreement that resolved Nevada officials' claimed infringement of client's First Amendment rights (Black Rock City, LLC v. Pershing County Board of Commissioners (Ninth Circuit)).
- Obtained reversal of order following an election challenge that would have permanently banned the client from participating in elections (Bradley v. Perrodin (Cal. Court of Appeal)).
- Successfully represented the client in an appeal from the denial of an arbitration request and successfully prosecuted a writ petition involving a discovery matter (Nassgil v. Hughes Electronics (Cal. Court of Appeal)).
- Successfully represented the client in an insurance coverage matter (PMI v. AISLIC (Ninth Circuit)).
- Successfully represented the client in an attorneys' fees dispute (Bank of America v. Williams (Cal. Court of Appeal)).
- Obtained the reversal of a multimillion-dollar jury verdict (Tech v. National Semiconductor (Cal. Court of Appeal)).
- Obtained reversal of conviction for securities fraud (U.S. v. Hall (Ninth Circuit)).
- Represented law schools and professors in a First Amendment challenge to the Solomon Amendment (FAIR v. Rumsfeld (U.S. Supreme Court)).
- Represented as amici in a matter involving a constitutional challenge to way in which students could be assigned to schools (Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle Sch. Dist. (U.S. Supreme Court)).
- Represented amici in an appeal involving a constitutional challenge to a city policy prohibiting the use of berthing space by nonprofits that discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation (Evans v. City of Berkeley (Cal. Supreme Court)).
Speeches & Presentations
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"New and Recurring Issues in False Claims Act Investigations," Responding to Government Investigations: The Latest Developments and Strategies for Government Contractors, Washington, D.C.
(May 17, 2022).
Speakers: Lyndsay A. Gorton, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Warrington Parker, and Michael Shaheen.
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"Procurement Fraud/FCA/Investigations," OOPS 2021, Crowell & Moring's 37th Annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar
(May 13, 2021).
Presenters: Mana Elihu Lombardo, Brian Tully McLaughlin, Warrington Parker, Michael Shaheen, Gail D. Zirkelbach, and Nkechi Kanu.
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"Anti-Corruption & Sanctions Investigations," Investigations: Readiness and Response Webinar Series
(April 29, 2021).
Presenters: Nimrod Haim Aviad, Thomas A. Hanusik, Michelle J. Linderman, Warrington Parker, and Robert Clifton Burns.
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"Best Practices for Managing Internal Investigations," ACI's Advanced Forum on False Claims and Qui Tam Enforcement, New York, NY
(January 29, 2018).
Co-Panelist: Warrington Parker.
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"Questionable Authorities: What Every Judge and Lawyer Needs to Know about Expert Witnesses," The National Judicial College
(October 19, 2017).
Co-Panelist: Warrington Parker.
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"10 Things Inside Counsel Would Like to Tell Outside Counsel about Trade Secret Litigation, and Vice Versa," AIPLA Annual Conference
(2011).
Speaker: Warrington Parker.
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"Risks and Benefits of Concurrent Criminal and Civil Litigation," IPO Trade Secret Committee
Speaker: Warrington Parker.
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"Emerging Ethical Obligations and Issues Involved in Interacting Through Social Networks," CLE Seminar
Speaker: Warrington Parker.
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"Calling in the Feds: A Practical Guide to the Criminal Prosecution of Trade Secret Theft," Intellectual Property Owners Association
Speaker: Warrington Parker.
Publications
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"What the DOJ Annual Reports Reveal About Federal Trade Secret and IP Protection Efforts," Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(July 20, 2022).
Authors: Jacob Canter and Warrington Parker.
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"No Non-Compete? No Problem. Texas Court Grants TRO Forcing Former Employees to Stop Working for Competing Business." Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(July 8, 2022).
Authors: Andrew M. Spitzer and Warrington Parker.
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"When Disruptors get Disrupted: IP Litigation in Tech Industry," Lexology
(March 15, 2022).
Author: Warrington Parker.
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"The Intersection of Technology, Litigation, and IP –When the Disruptors Get Disrupted," Crowell & Moring's Litigation Forecast 2022
(January 12, 2022).
Contributors: Warrington Parker
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"The Epic Trade Secret Saga Continues – Will the Supreme Court take the case?" Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(October 29, 2021).
Authors: Jessica Franzetti, Raija Horstman and Warrington Parker.
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"Bunch O’ Balloons Trade Secret Dispute Results in Bunch O’ Appeals," Crowell & Moring’s Trade Secrets Trends
(April 6, 2021).
Authors: Siri Rao, Molly A. Jones and Warrington Parker.
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"What the Ebola Crisis Can Teach Us About COVID-19 Compliance," Law360
(June 23, 2020).
Co-Author: Warrington Parker.
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"Limits On 'Self-Help' Discovery in FCA Cases," Law360
(June 27, 2017).
Co-Author: Warrington Parker.
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"Cybersecurity and The FCA - Yes, It Is a Thing," Law360
(November 9, 2016).
Co-Author: Warrington Parker.
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"New Strings Attached: LinkedIn Contacts Are Now Trade Secrets?" IP Frontline
(November 2014).
Co-Author: Warrington Parker.
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"The Differing Approaches to Preemption Under the Uniform Trade Secret Act," Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal
(2014).
Author: Warrington Parker.
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"Post-Litigation Advice About Litigation Avoidance in Context of Trade Secret Misappropriation," AIPLA Annual Conference
(2011).
Author: Warrington Parker.
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"How to Realistically Evaluate a Trade Secret Case," AIPLA Annual Conference
(2011).
Author: Warrington Parker.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
Press Coverage
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Vanessa Bryant Suing LA County Over Crash Photos
August 17, 2022 — Bloomberg Law
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Attorneys Weigh In On Depp-Heard Trial
May 31, 2022 — Associated Press
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In Westlaw-ROSS Litigation, Judge Allows ROSS’s Antitrust Case To Move Forward, But Tosses ‘Sham Litigation’ Claim
April 26, 2022 — LawSites
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‘A Lot To Reckon With’: Crowell’s Warrington Parker Sees Shifts In Tech Suits Between Competitors And Antitrust Enforcement
January 19, 2022 — The AmLaw Litigation Daily
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Crowell & Moring Chair Seeks Strategic Growth After ‘Good Year’
February 8, 2021 — Bloomberg Law
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Crowell & Moring Nabs Orrick Lawyer For San Francisco Expansion
January 21, 2021 — Bloomberg Law
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Crowell, Eyeing San Francisco Growth, Swipes Orrick's Warrington Parker
January 21, 2021 — Reuters Legal
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Orrick White Collar Partner Heads To Crowell & Moring
January 21, 2021 — The Recorder
Firm News & Announcements